Ahmed El-Feel

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with the first 230 cases of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) performed in a single center.

METHODS: A total of 230 cases of HoLEP were performed between June 2007 and June 2008. Mean age of patients was 69.8 +/- 10.3 years, and 21.3% of patients were either on anticoagulant or antiplatelet treatment. There was no limit for prostate size, with a mean prostate size of 86.5 +/- 65.4 g (range: 20-350 g). Follow-up was performed regularly at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, assessing the Q(max), PVR, and International Prostate Symptom Score.

RESULTS: Weight of prostate chips retrieved after morcellation was 78.6 +/- 61.3 g (range: 10-350), with enucleation time 102.2 +/- 55.4 minutes and morcellation time 19.3 +/- 10.1 minutes, leading an estimated efficiency rate of 0.64 g/min. The rate of decrease in prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen was 90.8% and 82.5%, respectively. At 1 month, mean Q(max) increased from 7.7 +/- 2.3 to 25.8 +/- 10.1 mL/s (P

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the results of antegrade (AG) ureteral stenting with retrograde (RG) stenting during laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 2003 and April 2007, a case series of 47 laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasties were done by three surgeons of equal expertise in laparoscopic surgery, where the Double-J ureteral stent was placed by the RG method (RG stenting group) in 15 cases and by the AG method (AG stenting group) in 32 patients. Intraoperative findings and operative data were recorded. Clinical and radiological outcomes were evaluated during the follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12 months and then annually.

RESULTS: Differences in patient's age and body mass index were not statistically significant. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty was successfully completed in 45 patients, with two cases of conversion to open (one in each group). A crossing vessel was identified in 42% of RG stenting group versus 45% of AG stenting group. A state of high ureteral insertion was identified in 16% of AG stenting group, a finding that was never seen in RG stenting group. Mean operative time was 271 +/- 21 minutes for RG stenting group versus 199 +/- 34 minutes for AG stenting group, a difference that was statistically significant (p

BACKGROUND: Routine use of laparoscopic augmentation ileocystoplasty has not yet been established.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcome of laparoscopic augmentation ileocystoplasty.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-three patients underwent laparoscopic augmentation ileocystoplasty for hypocompliant bladder.

INTERVENTION: Bladder dissection and reconstruction of the ileovesical anastomosis were performed laparoscopically, whereas the ileal pouch was prepared extracorporeally through a small 3- to 4-cm muscle-splitting incision.

MEASUREMENTS: Patient data, operative details, and follow-up were recorded. Urodynamic evaluation was performed preoperatively and after 12 mo, taking the bladder capacity and the maximum detrusor pressure as a measure for the outcome of the procedure.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: All cases were completed laparoscopically, with a mean operative time 202 min; mean hospital stay 5 d, and mean urethral catheter duration 11 d. After 12 mo, the estimated bladder volume increased from a mean 111 ml to 788 ml (p<0.01), whereas the maximum detrusor pressure dropped from a mean 92 cm H(2)O to 15 cm H(2)O (p<0.01). During a mean follow-up of 39 mo, two long-term complications have been reported: bladder stone and spontaneous rupture of the augmented bladder due to neglected clean intermittent self-catheterization.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic augmentation ileocystoplasty is a safe procedure, technically feasible and with favourable urodynamic outcome.

PURPOSE: To present our experience with laparoscopic ureterolithotomy as a potential alternative to open ureterolithotomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between October 2003 and October 2005, a total of 27 laparoscopic ureterolithotomies were performed in 25 patients. The mean age of the patients was 39.8 +/- 17.5 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.7 +/- 3.9 kg/m2. The inclusion criteria were stone(s) in the middle or upper ureter not suitable for treatment with SWL or endoscopy. Bilateral stones, multiple stones at the same level, recurrent stones, or stones in duplex systems were not a contraindication. A transperitoneal approach was used.

RESULTS: The mean operative time was 145 +/- 42 minutes. The mean blood loss was 62.5 +/- 23 mL with mean hemoglobin decline of 0.78 +/- 0.31 g/dL. Postoperative analgesia was a single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on day 1. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.1 +/- 6.7 days. No evidence of backpressure changes or increase in the serum creatinine concentration was observed during the follow-up. Assessment of the BMI, level of the stone, and laterality showed no statistical impact on the mean operative time.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy is technically feasible with the advantage of being minimally invasive and having lower postoperative morbidity.

PURPOSE: We report our initial experience with 13 cases of laparoscopic vesical diverticulectomy done via an extravesical approach between November 2002 and October 2004.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were male, with a mean age of 53 years and a mean body mass index of 26.2 kg/m2. A transperitoneal approach was preferred. The diverticulum was of the primary type in three patients and of the secondary type resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia in seven patients and a longstanding urethral stricture in three patients.

RESULTS: The mean operative time was 265 minutes with a mean blood loss of <100 mL and a mean postoperative hemoglobin decline of 1.1 g/dL. The urethral catheter was removed on day 7 postoperatively in the patients with a primary diverticulum, whereas it was left for 11 to 14 days in patients with secondary bladder diverticula. Postoperative complications occurred in only one patient with a primary diverticulum, taking the form of extravasation from the suture line in the control gravity-fill cystogram that was done routinely prior to urethral-catheter removal. Leakage resolved with urethral catheterization for 2 more weeks. The postoperative stay was 3 to 4 days.

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic diverticulectomy is technically feasible and safe and may represent an alternative to the standard open procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) has been refined by experienced surgeons into a competitive treatment alternative for localized prostate cancer. Less is known, however, about the outcomes of "learning curve" cases from newly trained surgeons. We prospectively studied 100 cases of LRP performed by 2 senior and 2 junior surgeons and addressed the rates of positive margins-an important early endpoint of oncologic efficacy.

METHODS: 100 consecutive cases of LRP were performed by two senior (n=62) and two junior surgeons (n=38) by a 5-port transperitoneal route. Whole-mount step-section prostate specimens were examined by Stanford protocol.

RESULTS: Positive margins occured in 25% of cases: 18% for pT2a (2/11), 18% for pT2b (11/61), 45% for pT3a (10/22), and 50% for pT3b (2/4) (p=0.002 pT2 vs. pT3). By surgeon experience, the rates were 19% (12/62) for senior and 34% (13/38) for junior (p=0.04). However, in a multiple logistic regression analysis, only pathologic stage (p=0.083) and Gleason sum (p=0.0133) reached statistical significance, while surgeon experience did not (p=0.0992).

CONCLUSION: Positive margin rates after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy are significantly influenced by pathologic stage and Gleason score, and are within the range reported from open series. The higher positive margin rate from junior surgeons, although not statistically significant, suggests the need for further study and continued mentoring during surgery and/or video review of cases to improve oncologic results.

OBJECTIVES: Although laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) is accomplished within 2 to 3 hours by experienced surgeons, less is known about the operating times (OTs) for recently trained surgeons or the influence of additional factors. As of November 2001 at our institution, two senior surgeons had each performed more than 100 cases of LRP and two junior surgeons had each performed fewer than 30. We prospectively studied the next 100 consecutive LRPs to assess the factors influencing the OT.

METHODS: Transperitoneal LRPs were performed by two senior (n = 62) and two junior surgeons (n = 38) with random case assignment. We assessed body mass index, prostate size, prior abdominal surgery, androgen deprivation, surgeon experience, procedures in addition to LRP, lymph node dissection, nerve sparing, and sural nerve grafting as potential predictors of the OT.

RESULTS: Prostate weight, androgen deprivation, and prior abdominal surgery did not significantly affect the OT, but grade 1 obesity increased the OT by an average of 38 minutes. The mean OT by surgeon experience was 214 minutes for seniors and 347 minutes for juniors (P <0.001). By procedure type, the OT ranged from 180 minutes for LRP only by seniors to 459 minutes for LRP plus lymph node dissection plus sural nerve grafting by juniors. Lymph node dissection and sural nerve grafting significantly increased the OT by 46 and 101 minutes, respectively, and nerve sparing did not. For each combination of procedures, seniors averaged significantly shorter times than did juniors. A multiple regression model with stepwise selection showed that prostate weight, sural nerve grafting, pelvic lymph node dissection, use of a surgical robot, and surgeon experience significantly affected the OT.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this prospective study of 100 cases of LRP showed that the OT for senior surgeons averaged 2 to 3 hours, but less experienced surgeons, and additional procedures, add significantly to the OT.